8. Katrinia
8
Katrinia
C ooper left later that morning for an appointment he said he had in the city and I didn’t see him in the shop again for the rest of the day. After Luna left I locked up and texted Willow. She replied instantly and said she was still stuck at work but to stop by. She also asked if I could grab dinner on the way because the ghosts on her tours were draining her energy and now she’s starving. I rolled my eyes at her dramatics but of course I agreed.
She called in her very particular order from the Indian place she loves and if I’m being honest, I’m just grateful we ate it at her office and not in our apartment. At least now we don’t have to live with the lingering aromas of the various spices for weeks on end.
“So how’s the new job going? Meet any cute guys coming in for tattoos?” She fishes for gossip as she wiggles her brows hoping for me to spill some tea on the clientele.
“Not yet. Just a skeezy blonde.” I grumble, kicking out my feet as I sit on top of her desk shoveling another bite of butter chicken and basmati into my mouth.
“Oh just give it time. I’m sure you’re going to meet all kinds of characters there.” She leans back in her chair like she is studying me. “Oh my god! You kissed someone.”
“What!?” I look at her shocked. My eyes are surely as big and round as a spooked cat on Halloween night. “Why would you think that?” I ask, setting my food down so I don’t drop it all over myself.
“You did! Tell me, who was it? Is he cute? Does he have any hot single friends?” She goes on and I just shake my head.
“It’s no one. Just drop it.” I can’t fight the flush in my cheeks so I take a sip of my orange soda hoping it will hide some of the traitorous heat.
Willow brings her fingers to her temple like she is having a psychic vision and says, “I think this is going to be a road paved with a lot of tension but in the end it will be good for you.” She opens her eyes just as I throw a piece of pita at her face.
“You’re only saying that because you think I need to get laid.” I lean back rolling my eyes.
“Oh no pussy Kat, I’m saying this because I KNOW you need to get laid.” She laughs and I can’t help but to laugh with her.
Honestly, she isn’t wrong. I can’t even remember how long it’s been. Definitely over a year for sure. Maybe two, three…? More? Ugh god, how sad is that?
Maybe she’s right in more ways than one. Maybe I have been wasting my best years playing it safe and pining over the one that broke my heart.
“You remember that guy you went out with a few weeks ago? David I think, the one with the roommate?” I ask and Willow nods with a smile on her face.
“I’ll text him right now!” Willow pulls out her phone and starts texting away. “I showed his roommate a picture of you and he’s been dying to double.”
Maybe this is what I need in order to move on and become friends with Cooper like he asked. Maybe I just haven’t ever given anyone else a real chance. I nod picking up my butter chicken. This feels right. I can go on one, totally harmless, entirely casual date. Right?
I mean, I have to start somewhere.
* * *
The next morning I unlocked the shop again, locking the door behind me. Clearly the first one here which is no surprise. Cooper has never been an early riser. He is more of a party all night sleep all day type. So it surprises me when I’m not even halfway across the room when I hear a key in the door.
Turning, I wait as Cooper walks in with a smile. “Dobroye utro, dorogaya”, he tells me good morning in nearly perfect Russian.
“You kept up with your lessons?” I ask, feeling suddenly nervous as he strides over to meet me where I stand.
He pulls out a Cadbury dairy milk chocolate bar from his pocket, handing it to me his fingers graze mine as he says, “Some things you never forget?”
Cooper smiles down at me before he walks away and settles in at his drawing table. Looking over his shoulder, seeing me still standing there stunned, he shoots me a wink before pulling down some sketch paper from the large roll and grabbing a charcoal pencil.
I hurry back into the office and yank the curtain shut as I try to quietly catch my breath. My heart is pounding, my fingers still tingling from his touch. No one has ever made me feel like he does. Cooper Cabrera has always taken my breath away without even trying.
Sitting down at my desk I turn on my computer. I’m going to start working on getting things matched up in the accounting system since that is a bit of mindless work for me and I need something repetitive and thoughtless at the moment.
I hear my phone ding in my purse and pull it out seeing two texts. One from Willow and another from Luna.
Opening the next text from Willow it reads.
I can do this. I can be a casual dater. Nothing has to happen. It doesn’t have to go any further than drinks in a bar. I’m still young. I can enjoy one casual night out with a hopefully handsome gentleman.
Not every guy has to be the one , right? Asking myself as my eyes fall to a purple wrapped chocolate bar sitting on top of the desk. I try not to think of the man who is just on the other side of a flimsy black curtain.
I try like hell to pretend he isn’t even here. Imagining that he is a total stranger and I’m a random employee. Taking a deep breath I roll my neck from side to side as Cooper pulls back the curtain and steps into the room.
“Your neck hurts?” He asks, and a moment later his large hands settle on my shoulders as he begins to rub out my knots.
I sigh when he steps closer, working my muscles harder. “You’re tense, dorogoy.” His voice is a sin filled whisper while his hands work their way under the neckline of my cardigan.
I moan as his able hands firmly release my tension. Grabbing the back of my neck with one hand he tilts my head to the side as he presses his palm down my neck and out through my shoulder. Stretching the muscles as he does and I can’t help it as another moan passes my lips.
I’m breathless and slipping away into his hands, delightfully at his mercy. He tilts my head to the other side and does the same thing but this time he tilts my head back and his lips fall to mine as he holds my face in his hand.
I sigh and his tongue collides with mine and I can’t bring myself to stop him. I’m swept away in the scent of him, the taste of him, the feel of his lips on mine. The way he possesses every single atom in my body with a single touch. Forcing my nerve endings to stand at attention waiting for his next order as he dictates his rule over my body.
I reach for him and he spins me around in my chair. Hauling me up and slamming me back down on the desk. I yelp, throwing my hands around his neck. Cooper is a beast with hair and lips and hands everywhere.
I whimper as he nips at my neck and I grab him, pulling his lips back into mine. “Oh my god.” I moan as he palms my breast.
“Pray to me, dorogoy. Let me be your god.” He growls and I lose it.
Fisting his shirt I yank it up over his head and his evil grin and lust filled eyes crumble my last remaining shred of self control.
His hand glides up my skirt and between my legs. Finding my soaked panties he yanks my head back with a fistful of my hair. “You’re so wet for me. You still want me?” He asks through gritted teeth and it’s like the question pains him.
“Touch me.” I command surrendering to the moment, completely consumed by this fire blazing for him inside of me, as his lips slam back down on mine. Yanking my thong to the side he slides a finger into me. I whimper as my head falls back against the wall and my nails scratch their way down his arms.
“Fuck Trinia. I’ve missed you so fucking much.” He slides his finger out bringing my slickness up to swirl around my clit and my mouth falls open as I hold onto him. I know I shouldn’t be letting him touch me, but it feels too good to stop him. Until the bell above the lobby door chimes.
“Damnit.” He mumbles against my neck but he doesn’t pull out of me. He brings his forehead to rest on mine as he strokes me slowly and our eyes connect as we are both panting breaths. “My appointments here.” He whispers and I nod. Pushing him him away I slide off the desk and straighten my skirt.
He kisses my lips before grabbing his shirt from the floor. As he slides it back over his bulky muscles, I notice a constellation tattoo in the sea of many above his hip bone. Riding along the V he has etched into his muscles pointing towards a region of his body I’m more than familiar with and now desperately needy for. It’s the sign for Aries and matching on the other side is the star sign for Libra.
I look up at him and he shoots me a wink. Leaning forward he whispers in my ear, “Catch ya later kitty Kat.” His crooked smirk is nothing but want and bad intentions though I blush anyway.
Sinking into my chair I attempt to wrangle my thoughts and catch my breath. I hear him chatting with a man for a little while before the buzzing sound of the tattoo machine starts. I can’t focus with the noise at first but after a while I realize I like the sound.
The tattoo machine is loud enough to help me drown out my thoughts but not too loud to aggravate my senses. Normally I need my headphones or a sound machine to help focus me when I work but the buzz of the needle permanently marking the skin of his patrons does the job pretty well.
I don’t even notice the time. Lost in my work and thoughts of Cooper I am startled by the ding of my phone. A text from Luna saying she isn’t going to make it in today after all. That’s fine. I have plenty of work to keep me busy and things to log in the system around here to fill up one day on my own.
I came to a good place to take a break and decide to see how Cooper’s art is coming along. Pulling back the curtain the man on the table is laying on his side and Cooper is once again shirtless with his waffle knit Henley draped over the back of his chair.
My cheeks flame at the sight of scratch marks down his arms as he lifts his head and looks at me. His lips turn up for just a moment before his attention falls back onto the skin of his canvas.
I walk over and watch from over his shoulder and I can’t help but notice a siren tattoo on his back. She’s holding a pirate’s bloody heart in her hands as he sinks down to the bottom of the sea reaching up for her. She looks a hell of a lot like me, I think.
Cooper can obviously tell where my sights land as he tenses up but keeps going. I’m also aware that the sound of the tattoo gun is stopping a lot more often than it did before I entered the room.
“Come hold my hand, pretty girl. This hurts like a bitch.” The guy on the table grunts before winking at me, holding out his hand for me to take.
Cooper shoves the needle into the guy’s skin and he shouts a curse as he screws his eyes closed.
I slide my hand up Cooper’s back stopping at his shoulder before saying, “I was just taking a little break. Curious about what was going on out here. It’s looking good but I should get back.”
Cooper turns his head and kisses my fingers. He watches me walk away and doesn’t take his eyes off me until the curtain closes. Only then do I hear the sound of the machine inking long, steady strokes again.
A couple more hours go by before I realize I missed a text from Willow.
“Oh shit!” I curse out loud to myself, beginning to panic seeing that the text was sent over thirty minutes ago and I’m scheduled to leave work…Well now!
Knowing I don’t want to see an innocent guy be murdered today, I shut down my computer and gather my things as fast as I can before I hear the bell above the door chime.
“Shit shit shit,” I mumble under my breath.
Rushing out of the back room I find two guys with Willow standing in the lobby and Cooper behind the counter as all eyes land on me.
“This is such a cool place!” Willow gapes as she spins around taking in all the original details and Gothic decor.
“Ummm yeah it’s a… cool place . This is Cooper, the owner and artist.” I point towards him and he walks around the counter to shake Willow’s hand.
“Cooper…” She lets the name linger on a breath as she processes. “You’re Cooper?” Willow points at me and I die a little inside. “The Cooper! This is fucking Cooper!?” Willow’s voice rises with every word.
“Willow, it’s…” I try to explain but she cuts me off.
“Wow, seriously? What are the odds? Were you even going to tell me? Is this the guy you kissed?” God dammit she is too witty for her own good sometimes.
“Kissed? You kissed your boss?” The very preppy looking guy who I am guessing is supposed to be my date cringes, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“He’s not my boss.” I correct, and I don’t know why because that is so totally not the point here.
“Who the fuck are you?” Cooper demands, taking a step towards the guy in a collared shirt I’m supposed to be getting casual drinks with.
“I’m her date.” He scoffs and Cooper’s eyes snap to mine.
“Oh really?” He sings, as he raises a brow.
I bite the corner of my lip and I close my eyes, hoping that if I try hard enough I can make this moment go away. Rewind time and remember to check my messages and successfully avoid this entire awkward situation.
God dammit , I really should be a shittier employee and check my phone more while on the clock.
“Are you ready to go?” Willow interjects. Her tone is laced with annoyance and disappointment.
I nod, opening my eyes and taking a step forward, I follow my friend and my date out the door without looking back. I can only imagine what Cooper’s face looks like right now as a guy who’s name I completely forgot places a cold hand on my lower back, guiding me down the sidewalk towards the location of our preordained drinks location.